Live cricket will finally return to our TV screens tomorrow (if the weather behaves). How we’ve all missed it. Billy Crawford is here to celebrate the belated start of the English summer …
This week marks the long awaited return of competitive cricket to our televisions and radios. It may seem trivial in these difficult times but, after the challenges of the last few months, it will provide a welcome relief for many of us. As Gary Lineker said upon the resumption of Premier League football: “we know it’s not important but we’ve missed it”.
Many of us up and down the country have missed our cricket greatly. It may sound slightly quaint but there is a reassuring certainty about our summer pastime. Somehow it feels that if a game of cricket is going on, even one held within a bio-secure bubble, then there is a little piece of normality in an abnormal world.
Perhaps that is why so many were keen to keep playing throughout World War 2. Even when battle was raging against Hitler’s war machine, we kept the game alive. Whether it was in Prisoner of War camps with makeshift stumps or on the field at Lord’s dodging the Doodlebugs, a little corner of England was to be found anywhere that people heard the sound of bat on ball. On Wednesday the living rooms and kitchens of our country will do so again.
We must be glad, not just that there are tourists willing to come, but also who they are. For true cricket aficionados a series against the West Indies will always stir the passions. For those of a certain vintage there will be fond remanissences of the great Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards. They will remember Michael Holding gliding gracefully across the Oval turf on his way to taking 14 English wickets in 1976 as the tourists taught Tony Grieg and his men the true meaning of grovelling. They will also recall Malcolm Marshall skittling England with one arm in plaster in 1984. Alas, he was gone too soon.
For those of us of a different generation we will smile and think of the magic of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose in their prime. And shudder as we remember Brian Lara grinding us into the dust as he compiled not one but two world record scores.
In more recent times there have been equally memorable English triumphs. Andy Caddick’s four wickets in an over at Headingley in 2000 brings a warm glow to many hearts. The thought of Steve Harmison roaring in at Sabina Park to turn the tables on the West Indies with 7-12 in 2004 also warms the cockles.
These days, because the Caribbean does not hold the financial muscle or influence in the corridors of power that is enjoyed by England, India and Australia, recent series have been more truncated affairs. Even so, they have still been able to provide some wonderful moments such as Shai Hope’s twin centuries at Headingley three summers ago.
This summer’s tourists will be led, as they were then, by Jason Holder. The Bajan cuts an impressive figure and not just because he stands at 6ft 7in tall. Holder has led the West Indies through yet another period of upheaval with a grace and calm authority that few of his recent predecessors have managed. Put simply, when Jason Holder speaks people listen.
What of the Englishmen? Joe Root will miss the first Test as he awaits the birth of his second child. This will give us the chance to assess the leadership qualities of Ben Stokes. One hopes that he will not find the captaincy as heavy a burden as Andrew Flintoff once did.
It will also be interesting to see how the new look top four of Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley and Joe Denley will fair against an impressive battery of West Indian fast bowlers. The quartet boast only 39 Test caps between them. The first three men, in particular, promise much for the future.
Those of us who hark back to a more innocent age, before the advent of hyper-professionalism and armies of fitness coaches, will also be fascinated to see the progress of the visitors’ off spinner Rakheem Cornwall. The Antiguan is a fine bowler and should not be defined by his, admittedly sturdy, frame.
Cricket has always been a game for those of all shapes and sizes. It will be refreshing if Cornwall can prove that it’s possible to be successful without a physique that appears to have been hewn from granite.
There is plenty to look forward to then as the players of England and the West Indies belatedly take to the field in Hampshire on Wednesday morning. Given the government’s recent U-turn on recreational cricket, those on the village green can hope to emulate them this weekend as well.
So perhaps our summer will not be lost after all. It may not be the one we expected, although for many of us the postponement of the gaudy Hundred is no bad thing, but at least it may be an English summer of sorts.
In the grand scheme of things our national pastime does not matter much, but to those of us who hold it dear, its resumption is a reassuring step on the road back to normality.
Billy Crawford
Yes, it’s good to have a test match,albeit in strange circumstances but how many people will actually see it?
With such a small percentage of the population who pay for Sky, the audience figure will be interesting to see.
Of course, the beeb have 1 hour of highlights which will probably be only 40-45 minutes of action with the rest being inane jabber by Michael Vaughan & co.
The counties have done the right thing it seems, but there are further hurdles to clear:
a) Red-ball cricket mustn’t be watered down to “you can play friendlies if you want to” by the ECB.
b) Spectators must be admitted without ridiculous off-putting rules and some counties have to sort streaming out. If I was being a crazed utopian, I might even suggest certain TV companies might show a game or two.
c) We need a dry, warm late summer and early autumn.
d) Above all, we need no so-called “second wave” (not that there’s ever been a first one).
Absolutely as to a). It’s rather ironic that the county being reported as most vociferously opposed to red-ball cricket, for hotel safety reasons, are the ones in the smallest geographical group! That should be a no-brainer–just give Hants home games against Kent and Essex, and then they can do Southampton to Hove or London as a succession of day-trips if they’re really worried.
The first part of b) could usefully be applied at any time (yes, I’m looking at grounds that don’t let you take in non-glass bottles of your own so that you have to buy their overpriced whatever…)
It’s great to see a decent WI side again, but none of this side is a ‘must see’ unlike most of the players of those great sides in the70s and 80s. They have a decent – rather than terrifying – pace attack – against which I don’t have complete confidence in our upper order, but their batting too looks questionable. For that reason, I would retain Broad to exploit the English wicket and conditions with Jimmy at the ‘Rose Bowl’, but bowl Archer and Wood together at OT. The player I would most like to see is Cornwall at OT. He gets a lot of turn and bounce and I think the OT wicket will suit him.
Can’t wait for another cricket season.
I will be watching from lunch on Wednesday, as I live in Texas.
That is all.
Hear hear Alex! England v West Indies series aren’t quite what they used to be but I’m desperate to see some live cricket again. My main hope is for a competitive series. I’m hoping that the Windies pace bowlers and our inexperienced middle-order is a recipe for some decent cricket.
I’m also grateful to the Windies for coming over in the circumstances. Good on ’em.
good on all concerned…I’ll be eagerly tuned in here in Sydney, 8:00pm first ball, I’m sure there’ll be countless numbers like me all over the cricket universe. C A (who need some good P R) have done well locally by arranging live streaming.
The return of cricket, a burst of optimism is this grey world…
Desperate is the buzz word. Though I’ll certainly watch the highlights, the artificiality of the preparation and playing conditions mean it’s all a watered down excercise that will prove nothing in the grand scheme. Premiership footie has been a strange experience, as there’s no doubt the absence of atmosphere has had a major effect on motivation. There’s clearly little or no such thing as home advantage. Whilst I understand people’s need to integrate some normality into life at present, and for many sport is key to this, especially during summer, playing and watching it live, which is that key for many, is still some way off unless a vaccine is forthcoming.
The disturbing thing about this whole affair is how often the so called experts seem to disagree about the best tactics to use to mitigate the effects of viral spread. The government’s recent U-turn on recreational cricket is just another example of this. It doesn’t inspire confidence. The public don’t seem sure how to react, pub openings this weekend have proved this with many empty bars and beer gardens. I travel to work on the bus each day and there’s precious few passengers and friends of mine using trains have reported similar. It’s only in cars that people seem to feel safe.
Well said Marc, and yes your right. Conflicting advice and restrictions from a fire fighting Government has resulted in many people voting with their feet or otherwise. Do the so called experts actually really believe that opening pubs is less risky than letting people watch a cricket match, go for a swim or gym session, go to the theatre or indeed opening the schools now for the lowest of low risk groups, children? It must be based purely on economic factors, otherwise I’d love to know who does their risk assessments!I
As for today looks like a washout as I write, for what is, as you say, a very much watered down, exercise. “Highlights” only for me too.
Mmmm… Doesn’t look like we will get an hours play let alone an hours highlights.
Batting 1st and no Woakes. Really/
I’ve had my fill of Ward for the season. Yawn.